Hmmm... a boy gave me "Sophie's World" in my twenties after a chance meeting. He said I'd like it because I'm a philosopher.

I tried to read it at least three times over a twenty year period and only found it boring.

Never finished it.

Still. It was a best seller and then some. Massive in its time. So I guess it reached some folks.

Agreed. I also prefer to be left pondering. Or to start pondering. I don't think it's fair to compare many writers to Camus :D I mean... there is bordering on, or actual, genius.

And then there are authors.

As far as maintaining philosophy is for the academics alone...

That's arguably the fastest way to kill original thought and, perhaps, some real genius ;)